Just a few weeks after giving us a look at the gameplay for Planet Zoo 2, developer Frontier Developments has now released a new video that goes deeper into the management sim and its various gameplay aspects. The video comes in at 35 minutes in length, and you can check it out below.
The main focus of the new video is the zoo that was used for the gameplay showcase from earlier this month, and was captured using a development build from earlier this year. As such, some of the things shown off might have been changed quite a bit by the time we get close to Project Zoo 2’s October 13th release date.
The video features video artist Mel Cox, art director Marc Cox, and game director Gareth Hughes, and is hosted by senior influencer manager Chris Owen. As explained by Hughes, the video gives us a look at a tropical zoo built in Planet Zoo 2, and in the process, focuses on some of the new things that players can look forward to in the game.
The biggest change in Planet Zoo 2 over its predecessor is a massive jump in visual fidelity. This includes things like background terrain, foliage, and even rocks. This was achieved thanks to a newer version of Frontier Developments’ internal game engine, dubbed Cobra. This upgrade has allowed the studio to make use of an entirely new lighting system with global illumination.
Along with the visuals, the developers also made a point of focusing on the guests who can visit the zoo. They describe it as an “interesting combination of simulation and realism”. The video then goes into detail about some of the new tools that will be available in order to make the gameplay more accessible for casual players. However, veterans of Planet Zoo will also find plenty to love here, with brand-new assets that give them fine control over their zoo’s layout and aesthetics.
Going further into the new tools, we get to see how the developers were able to create an ideal enclosure for a tiger, giving it plenty of room to move around and a pleasant pond to drink water out of. Quite a bit of attention was paid to how the various animals will interact with the things in their enclosures. The tiger, for example, after having had her fill of water, decides to lounge around in the pond and try to climb up a wooden post.
Frontier Developments had confirmed with its previous gameplay showcase that Planet Zoo 2 will feature aerial and aquatic creatures, giving players more options for their zoos. Some of the new animals include the Toco Toucan, the Secretary Bird, Blacktip Reef Sharks, and Hawksbill Turtles. The title will also allow players to focus their efforts on creating Wildlife Reserves, which start off conservation projects before evolving into full-blown habitats. These reserves can be set up anywhere in the world and are designed around being long-term goals for players.
Planet Zoo 2 is being developed for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.